System and method for distributing user interface device configurations

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect a plurality of User Interface (UI) device configurations, receive a request from a computing device to download one or more of the plurality of UI device configurations, and transmit to the computing device the one or more UI device configurations requested to configure one or more UI devices of the computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/287,581, filed May 27, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/684,609, filed Nov. 26, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,775,688, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/334,916, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,341,305 filed on Dec. 22, 2011, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/042,079 now U.S.Pat. No. 8,108,566 filed Mar. 7, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/167,342 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,925,797 filedJul. 3, 2008, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to user interface devices, andmore specifically to system and method for distributing user interfacedevice configurations.

BACKGROUND

It can be technically complex and time consuming for users to configureUser Interface (UI) devices such as a navigation device (e.g., computermouse, game controller, etc.), keyboard, display and/or audio system(e.g., a loud speaker system, headset, etc.) for a computing device suchas a computer, gaming system, media player, or like device.Additionally, there may be instances where a user may desire to vary UIdevice configurations between software applications with UI-relatedfeatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a computing device;

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating in thecommunication system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a graphical user interface illustrativeof the method of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative diagrammatic representation of a machinein the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the exemplary embodiments entails a method includingreceiving a request from a first computing device for User Interface(UI) device configurations and in response to receiving the request,providing configuration data associated with a plurality of UI deviceconfigurations to the first computing device for presentation of aGraphical User Interface (GUI) associated with the plurality of UIdevice configurations. The request is received by a server that isremote from the first computing device, and the server is incommunication with the first computing device over a network. The GUIcategorizes the plurality of UI device configurations according to oneor more social networks of subscribers.

Another embodiment entails a server including a memory and a controllerprogrammed to receive a first User Interface (UI) device configurationfrom a first computing device that is associated with a first gamer andto provide configuration data over a network to a second computingdevice for presentation of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) thatdisplays a plurality of UI device configurations including the first UIdevice configuration. The GUI identifies the first gamer with the firstUI device configuration.

Another embodiment entails a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium including computer instructions for receiving a request from acomputing device for User Interface (UI) device configurations,receiving ratings information associated with at least a portion of aplurality of UI device configurations, generating ratings data based onthe ratings information, and in response to receiving the request,providing the ratings data to the computing device for presentation of aGraphical User Interface (GUI) associated with the plurality of UIdevice configurations. The GUI presents satisfaction ratings based onthe ratings data.

Another embodiment entails a method in a computing device involvingpresenting a plurality of selectable User Interface (UI) deviceconfigurations distributed by a remote system, directing the remotesystem to supply the computing device one or more of the plurality of UIdevice configurations, receiving from the remote system the one or moreUI device configurations, and configuring a UI device of the computingdevice according to at least one of the one or more UI deviceconfigurations. The plurality of UI device configurations can besupplied to the remote system by a plurality of subscribers of theremote system.

Another embodiment entails a system having a controller to collect aplurality of UI device configurations, receive a request from acomputing device to download one or more of the plurality of UI deviceconfigurations, and transmit to the computing device the one or more UIdevice configurations requested to configure one or more UI devices ofthe computing device. The plurality of UI device configurations can besupplied by a plurality of users of the system.

Another embodiment entails a UI device having a circuit element operatedby a computing device according to one of a plurality of UI deviceconfigurations supplied to the computing device by a remote system. Theremote system can receive the plurality of UI device configurations froma plurality of subscribers of the remote system.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a computing device 100. Thecomputing device 100 can comprise a wireline or wireless transceiver 102(herein transceiver 102), a group of user interface (UI) devices 106, apower supply 116, and a controller 104 for managing operations thereof.The transceiver 102 can utilize common wireless access technologies suchas cellular, software defined radio (SDR) and/or WiMAX technologies,among others. Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X,UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, and next generation wirelessaccess technologies as they arise.

In another embodiment, the transceiver 102 can support short-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi, or cordlesstechnologies such as Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT)or Personal Handyphone System (PHS). In yet another embodiment thetransceiver 102 can support wireline technologies such as a TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) operating in conjunction with an InternetProtocol (IP) for exchanging messages in a public Internet network overa Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) or cable interface.

The group of UI devices 106 can include a depressible or touch-sensitivekeyboard (or keypad) 108, a navigation device 110 such as a computermouse with an optical sensor and/or roller ball, wheel or navigationdisk with one or more selection buttons, a game controller or othersuitable navigation system for manipulating operations of the computingdevice 100. The group of UI devices 106 can further include a display112 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) forconveying images to the end user of the computing device 100. In anembodiment where the display 112 is touch-sensitive, a portion of thekeyboard 108 can be presented by way of the display.

The group of UI devices 106 can also include an audio system 114 thatutilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (e.g.,audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear such as by way of aheadset) and high volume audio such as a loud speaker for mono or stereoaudio presentations, hands free operation, or other suitable uses. Theaudio system 114 can further include a microphone for interceptingaudible signals of an end user thus enabling voice communications over acommon communication network and/or for speech recognition applications.The group of UI devices 106 can in whole or in part be an integral partof a housing assembly of the computing device 100. For example, aportion of the audio system 114 can be a headset with a built-inmicrophone which couples to a portion of the audio system which is anintegral part of the housing assembly of the computing device 100.

The power supply 116 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable batteries, supply regulation technologies, andcharging system technologies for charging the replaceable batteries andfor supplying energy to the aforementioned components of the computingdevice 100, thereby facilitating portable applications. The power supply116 can also utilize singly or in combination power managementtechnologies that receive power from a common power outlet and supplyregulated energy to the components of the computing device 100. Thecontroller 106 can utilize computing technologies such as amicroprocessor and/or digital signal processor (DSP) with an associatedstorage memory(ies) such a mass storage device (e.g., hard drive),Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The computing device 100 of FIG. 1 can represent without limitation alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, a mobile phone (e.g.,cell phone), a short-range mobility phone (e.g., a cordless or wiredoffice or home phone), or a gaming system operatively coupled to acommunication network for on-line or localized gaming. Other computingdevice embodiments suitable to the present disclosure are consideredwithin the scope of the claims described below.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200.The communication system 200 can comprise a portal 202 operating fromone or more common web servers 204. The portal 202 can becommunicatively coupled to a plurality of computing devices 100representing any of the aforementioned embodiments of the computingdevice of FIG. 1. The computing devices 100 can exchange messages withthe portal 202 by way of the communication network 201 which can utilizecommon circuit-switching technology and/or packet-switching technologyto support communication sessions therebetween. The circuit-switching orpacket-switching technologies can correspond to common wireline orwireless access technologies supportive of the access technologiespreviously described for the computing device 100 of FIG. 1, as well ascombinations thereof.

The portal 202 can support the exchange of UI device configurations asdescribed by method 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of agraphical user interface illustrative of method 300.

Method 300 can begin with step 302 in which users of computing devices100 subscribe to the portal 202 to manage UI device configurations. Eachuser can access the portal 202 by way of a common Internet browser(e.g., Mozilla Firefox™ Internet Explorer™, etc.). The subscriptionprocess can entail a policy in which each prospective subscriberprovides contact information (e.g., first and last name, email address,telephone number, etc.). Once a user becomes a subscriber, the portal202 can assign the user a login name and a password defined by thesubscriber or the portal. The services of the portal 202 can be free ofcharge, at a fee commensurate with the services provided, or inaccordance with specific promotions a combination of free services forsome subscribers and fee-based services for others.

In step 304, the subscribers can upload to the portal one or more UIdevice configurations utilized by their computing device 100. In thepresent context, a UI device can correspond to any device that can serveas a user interface that presents and/or controls in part operations ofthe computing device 100. Common forms of UI devices can include withoutlimitation a keyboard 108, a navigation device 110, a display 112, or anaudio system 114 with any of the embodiments previously described forthe computing device 100 of FIG. 1. Method 300 can also be applied toother forms of UI devices not described herein that at the present timeor in future generations of computing devices can serve as a userinterface.

UI device configurations can take on innumerable embodiments. Forexample, a keyboard configuration can correspond to one or morecharacter macros created by the subscriber uploading the configurationsto the portal. Macros can be useful for reducing time to enter asequence of characters, or can also be used to reassign keys of thekeyboard. For example, a subscriber may find it useful in certain gamingapplications to reassign keys (e.g., the number “9” reassigned to theletter “R”). Thus, when a particular game is running the selection ofthe “R” key produces a character output of “9” as if the “9” key hadbeen depressed. Similarly, the subscriber can create a macro in whichtwo or more keystrokes are generated from a single keystroke. Forexample, a macro can be created so that when the “F11” key is selected,a sequence of characters can be associated and generated with theselection of this key; for instance, selecting F11 can be designed toproduce the character string “Hello”. In addition to macros, thesubscriber can upload keyboard configurations managed by an operatingsystem (OS) of the computing device. OS-related keyboard configurationscan include without limitation a character repeat delay configuration, acharacter repeat rate configuration, a cursor blink rate configuration,a software driver for the keyboard, or combinations thereof.

A display configuration can correspond to color calibration settings ofthe display, sharpness settings of the display, refresh rate settings ofthe display, a desktop configuration, a window appearance configuration,a display resolution configuration, a configuration for a plurality ofmonitors that expand the desktop capacity of a computing device, atouch-sensitivity configuration for touch-sensitive displays, a softwaredriver for the display, or combinations thereof.

A navigation device configuration can correspond to one or morenavigation button configurations, a selection speed configuration forthe one or more navigation buttons, a selection lock configuration forthe one or more buttons, a pointer selection configuration, a pointerspeed configuration, a snap configuration for the pointer, a visibilityconfiguration for the pointer, a configuration for a rotationalmechanism of the navigation device, a navigation lift configuration forestablishing a bottom surface detection setting of an optical sensor (orsimilar surface sensor) of the navigation device, an accelerometerconfiguration, a software driver for the navigation device, orcombinations thereof.

An audio system configuration can correspond to a volume configuration,a balance configuration, an audio equalization configuration, a stereoconfiguration, a noise reduction configuration, a digital audio playbackconfiguration, an audio configuration for actions taken by thenavigation device, a configuration of a microphone of the audio system,a multi-dimensional audio settings (e.g., 3 or more dimensions such as a5.1 audio configuration, 7.1 audio configuration, and so on), a softwaredriver for the audio system, or combinations thereof.

From these illustrative embodiments of UI device configurations, asubscriber of the portal 202 can submit to the portal any portion of theaforementioned configurations or other suitable UI device configurationsfor archiving purposes. The submission process can take place by way ofa software application operating in the computing device 100 which iscapable of retrieving UI device configurations from an operating systemof the computing device or from another suitable storage location in thecomputing device or remote to the computing device (e.g., an externallocal or remote hard drive, remote server, etc.). The softwareapplication can be managed by the subscriber (user) of the computingdevice 100.

In step 306, subscribers can direct the portal 202 by way of a browserof the computing device 100 to organize the UI device configurations.For instance, a portion of subscribers having an interest for gaming maydesire to organize their UI device configurations amongst a socialnetwork of gamers. Another portion of subscribers may want to create asocial network of friends and family. Other subscribers may be lessdiscriminating and choose to share their UI device configurations withany subscriber of the portal 202. Thus, any social and/or organizationalhierarchy can be created by the subscribers, and/or a service providerof the portal 202. The subscribers can also establishing in step 308sharing limitations of the UI device configurations by limiting thecommunity of subscribers that can access their archived UI deviceconfigurations.

For example, some subscribers can define a buddy list for exchanging UIdevice configurations only with subscribers listed in the buddy list.Other subscribers can choose not to share their UI device configurationswith any subscribers. Such subscribers can choose to use the portal 202for private purposes such as for ease of portability between computingdevices 100. For instance, if a subscriber changes computing devices100, said subscriber can access the portal 202 by way of a commonbrowser and download a software application to the computing device 100to assist the subscriber in the transfer of the subscriber's UI deviceconfigurations to the new computing device. Before updating the UIdevice configurations of the new computing device 100, the softwareapplication can store preexisting settings in the event the subscriberwants to restore these setting at some point in time. This feature canbe useful in situations where the subscriber desires to transitionbetween computing devices 100 on a temporary basis (e.g., renting orborrowing a computing device). This restoration technique can also beapplied to subscribers that share UI device configurations.

Once the UI device configurations have been uploaded and organized withsharing limitations, the portal 202 can monitor requests generated bycomputing devices 100 of subscribers requesting a presentation in step312 of available UI device configurations, which can be downloaded andapplied to the UI devices of the requesting computing device in steps316-318 once a selection is detected in step 314. Steps 316-318 can alsoinclude a process or recording preexisting UI device configurationsbefore they are changed in the event the subscriber later desiresrestore them.

FIG. 4 depicts illustrative embodiments of graphical user interface(GUI) snapshots of portions of steps 312-318. In this illustration afirst GUI presented by the computing device 100 of a subscriber depictssubscriber groupings which can be established by the subscriber in step306 and/or the service provider of the portal 202. In this illustration,the GUI shows groupings for “Gamers”, “Friends”, “Family”, “Private”,and others which can be viewed by selecting “More”.

The Gamers GUI button can represent a social networking list ofsubscribers interested in gaming. A Friends or Family GUI button canrepresent a limited set of subscribers sharing UI device configurationsthat have been selectively defined in step 306 by a subscriber. ThePrivate GUI button can represent UI device configurations which thesubscriber of the portal 202 does not share with other subscribers. Inillustration purposes only, it is assumed that the subscriber selectsthe Gamers GUI button (depicted by the bold font and thicker outline).Responsive to said selection, the portal 202 presents a new GUI with aselection of Gamers. Each gamer can be identified by name or pseudo nameand can be assigned an average rating determined from an aggregation ofratings collected by the portal 202 from subscribers associated with theGamers grouping. The more stars depicted next to a gamer, the higher arating of satisfaction by subscribers downloading the UI deviceconfigurations supplied by the gamer.

In this illustration, the subscriber selects Gamer X perhaps because ofa higher satisfaction rating than the other gamers, or because thesubscriber likes the particular gamer. This selection transitions to aGUI that lists video games which Gamer X has provided differing UIdevice configurations. Upon selecting the first video game, the portal202 presents another GUI with a selection of UI device configurations.Each UI device can be listed separately so that the subscriber canselectively choose the UI devices of interest. In this example, thesubscriber chooses the navigation device and the audio systemconfigurations supplied by Gamer X for “Video Game 1”.

Upon selecting the OK GUI button, the portal 202 begins to download thenavigation device and audio system configurations to the computingdevice 100 of the subscriber (depicted by the download progress GUI).Once the navigation device and audio system configurations have beensuccessfully downloaded, the subscriber has the option to apply theconfigurations or reject the update. When the OK button is selected thecomputing device 100 updates the UI devices per the downloadedconfigurations and begins operating said UI devices in accordance withthese configurations. The update process can be executed byconfiguration software operating in the computing device by way of itsoperating system or software downloaded from the portal 202.

It would be apparent to an artisan of ordinary skill in the art that theGUIs depicted in FIG. 4 are illustrative and non-limiting. Said artisancan expect that any GUI arrangement can be used to effectuate steps312-318. Additionally, it would be apparent to said artisan that theorganization of subscribers, and the categorization of UI deviceconfigurations can be arranged in other ways while effectuating an endresult of updating UI device configurations of a computing device 100 byway of portal 202.

Method 300 can further include steps for rating the UI deviceconfigurations downloaded from the portal 202. In step 320, the portal202 can for example, detect that a subscriber has invoked a process tosubmit a satisfaction rating using a software application supplied bythe portal 202 and operating in the computing device 100 or by way of abrowser interface to the portal. The satisfaction rating can be a simpleGUI selection of zero to five stars, five stars being the highest levelof satisfaction, with half stars also selectable. Once the selection hasbeen made, the portal software operating in the computing device 100 orthe browser transmits to the portal 202 the satisfaction rating in step322, which the portal records in step 324 according to the source of theUI device configuration, which in this illustration, is Gamer X. Theportal 202 can use the supplied rating of this subscriber (and othersdownloading the same or similar UI device configurations of Gamer X) toupdate the satisfaction rating of Gamer X.

Whether or not a satisfaction rating is provided by the subscriber, thesubscriber can be presented by way of portal 202 or portal softwareoperating locally in the computing device 100 an option in step 326 torestore the preexisting UI device configurations. If a restorationoption is selected in step 326, the computing device 100 can proceed tostep 328 and restore UI device configurations existing before step 318.

From the foregoing descriptions, it would be evident to an artisan withordinary skill in the art that the aforementioned embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, method 300 can beadapted so that UI device configurations can be archived partially. Thatis, subscribers can choose to upload or download portions of UI deviceconfigurations rather than a full configuration set. In yet anotherembodiment, method 300 can be adapted so that the service provider ofthe portal 202 exclusively defines the grouping of subscribers andcategories of UI device configurations. This embodiment can be useful insocial networks in which an expected behavior or outcome is desired bythe service provider of the portal 202.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosure.Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims for a fullerunderstanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 500 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 500 may include a processor 502 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 504 and a static memory 506, which communicate with each othervia a bus 508. The computer system 500 may further include a videodisplay unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system500 may include an input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 514 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 516, a signal generationdevice 518 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 520.

The disk drive unit 516 may include a machine-readable medium 522 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 524)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 524may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 504, the static memory 506, and/or within the processor 502during execution thereof by the computer system 500. The main memory 504and the processor 502 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 524, or that which receives and executes instructions 524from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 526 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 526 using the instructions 524. Theinstructions 524 may further be transmitted or received over a network526 via the network interface device 520.

While the machine-readable medium 522 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a systemincluding a processor, peripheral device settings over a network,wherein the peripheral device settings are configured for use by aperipheral device, wherein the peripheral device is a portable devicethat is separate from and configured for communication with a firstcomputing device via at least one of a hardwire connection or a wirelessconnection; storing, by the system, the peripheral device settings in amemory, wherein the memory is remote from the first computing device;receiving, by the system, a request over the network for the peripheraldevice settings; and providing, by the system, the peripheral devicesettings over the network responsive to the request to enable a user toutilize the peripheral device settings, wherein the peripheral devicesettings are received from the first computing device via userselections in a graphical user interface presented by the firstcomputing device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical userinterface enables selection of a software program from among a group ofsoftware programs, and wherein a generation of the peripheral devicesettings is based on the software program.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the providing of the peripheral device settings is to a secondcomputing device that enables configuration of the peripheral deviceaccording to the peripheral device settings.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the first and second computing devices are remote from eachother, wherein the providing of the peripheral device settings to thesecond computing device enable the user to play a video game utilizingthe peripheral device settings.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein thevideo game is hosted by a host server over the network.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the peripheral device settings comprise macros.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device settings are receivedfrom the first computing device via user selections in a graphical userinterface presented by the first computing device in an Internetbrowser, wherein the graphical user interface enables generatingmultiple configurations for the peripheral device, and wherein each ofthe multiple configurations is associated with a different configurationprofile.
 8. A peripheral device comprising: a memory that storesinstructions; and a processor coupled with the memory, wherein theprocessor responsive to executing the instructions performs operationscomprising: providing signals via at least one of a hardwire or wirelessconnection to a first computing device, wherein the signals areassociated with peripheral device settings for user interaction with theperipheral device to control a software program; and providing theperipheral device settings via the first computing device over a networkto a system including a server to cause the system to store theperipheral device settings and to cause the system to provide theperipheral device settings to one of the first computing device or asecond computing device responsive to a request received from the one ofthe first or second computing devices to enable a user to utilize theperipheral device settings, wherein the peripheral device settings areselected according to user input received by the first computing device,and wherein the user input includes selections made according to agraphical user interface presented by the first computing device.
 9. Theperipheral device of claim 8, wherein the peripheral device settingscomprise a navigation button configuration, a selection speedconfiguration, a selection lock configuration, a pointer selectionconfiguration, a pointer speed configuration, a snap configuration, anaccelerometer configuration, or combinations thereof.
 10. Acomputer-readable storage device comprising instructions which,responsive to being executed by a processor of a first computing device,cause the processor to perform operations comprising: presenting agraphical user interface; and providing, via the graphical userinterface, first peripheral device settings over a network to a systemincluding a server, wherein the first peripheral device settings areconfigured for use by a first peripheral device, wherein the firstperipheral device is a portable device that is separate from andconfigured for communication with the first computing device via atleast one of a hardwire connection or a wireless connection, wherein theproviding of the first peripheral device settings to the system causesthe system to store the first peripheral device settings in a memoryremote from the first computing device, and wherein the providing of thefirst peripheral device settings to the system causes the system toselectively enable access to the first peripheral device settings forreconfiguration of at least one of the first peripheral device or asecond peripheral device.
 11. The computer-readable storage device ofclaim 10, wherein the first peripheral device settings are generated viauser selections in the graphical user interface.
 12. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the graphical userinterface presents a group of software programs and enables selection ofa software program from among the group of software programs.
 13. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the firstperipheral device settings are generated via user selections in thegraphical user interface and are based in part on the selection of thesoftware program.
 14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10,wherein the providing of the first peripheral device settings to thesystem causes the system to selectively enable access to the firstperipheral device settings for reconfiguration of the first peripheraldevice via a second computing device.
 15. The computer-readable storagedevice of claim 14, wherein the first and second computing devices areremote from each other, and wherein providing of the peripheral devicesettings by the system to the second computing device enables a user toplay a video game utilizing the first peripheral device settings on thefirst peripheral device.
 16. The computer-readable storage device ofclaim 15, wherein the video game is hosted by a host server over thenetwork.
 17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, whereinthe operations further comprise: receiving, via the graphical userinterface, a settings selection based on user input; and responsive tothe settings selection, receiving second peripheral device settings overthe network from the system, wherein the second peripheral devicesettings are configured for use by the first peripheral device.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operationsfurther comprise re-configuring the first peripheral device according tothe second peripheral device settings.